UN Convention on the Law of the Sea inquiry launched

Professor Steven Haines giving evidence. Photo credit HRAS
Professor Steven Haines giving evidence. Photo credit HRAS

An inquiry into the future of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) and its applicability in 21st century has been launched by the UK House of Lords Select Committee on International Relations and Defence. The House of Lords inquiry is considering the extent to which the UNCLOS is fit for purpose in 2021 and is examining the enforcement of UNCLOS, its dispute resolution mechanisms, and the extent to which it has proved able to adapt to new and emerging challenges, including climate change, autonomous maritime systems, and issues of human rights and human security at sea.

The inquiry will explore the UK’s current policy towards UNCLOS and approach in practice, and consider which international partners and alliances will be important for the UK to address these challenges and uphold its interests. Continue reading “UN Convention on the Law of the Sea inquiry launched”

National Safe Boating Week in Australia and New Zealand highlighted three key issues

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has partnered with the Australian New Zealand Safe Education Boating Group (ANZSBEG) for National Safe Boating Week, which took place from the 2nd to the 8th of October. It represented an opportunity for governments, industry leaders, and casual and professional seafarers alike to highlight the importance of safe boating across Australia and New Zealand.

AMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Sachi Wimmer said “Boating is core to our way of life. Not only is it a great way to spend your free time and enjoy the outdoors, but we also have a lot of people on boats out on the water earning a living,” Continue reading “National Safe Boating Week in Australia and New Zealand highlighted three key issues”

MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021

MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021
MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021

The MAIB has released its latest Safety Digest 2/202 featuring 25 essential case studies following maritime incidents and accidents. Introducing the MAIB Safety Digest 2/2021, Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, says, “I would like to start by thanking Matthew Easton, John Clark and Iain Elliott for writing the introductions to the Merchant, Fishing and Recreational Craft sections of this digest. As always, their perspectives on maritime safety make compelling reading. There are many aspects to safe operations and, purely by coincidence, our three introduction writers have focused on different parts of the safety effort.

John Clark’s accident in 2013 was the trigger for him to focus on assessing risks and taking steps to reduce them. Continue reading “MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021”

UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer

UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer
UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced it is set to ‘unleash the UK’s potential as a world leader in future technologies’ with proposals to support the development of autonomous ships and shipping. The UK government is proposing to amend the current legal framework to take powers in primary legislation to regulate all Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) regardless of size, including craft that would not traditionally be considered ships.

The benefits of this approach would be to:
Continue reading “UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer”

New US bill proposes reforming liability for maritime accident compensation

Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Dept
Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Dept

A bill has been introduced before the US Congress designed to reform the 170-year-old regulation that limits maritime accident compensation. The effort is being led by California’s Congressman Salud Carbajal and Senator Dianne Feinstein and has been written to be retroactive to cover the 2019 fire aboard the dive boat Conception, which killed 34 people off the California coast.

The Carbajal-Feinstein bill updates an 1851 law that can prevent maritime accident victims and their families from receiving compensation from those responsible for the accident. Under the terms of the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, boat owners can limit their liability tothe value of the vessel after the accident. The sponsors of the new bill said according to the current legislation the owner of the Conception dive boat may not be held financially liable for any losses incurred as a result of the fire – including loss of life – because the boat had no value after it was destroyed. The Conception was declared a total loss after the 2019 fire. Continue reading “New US bill proposes reforming liability for maritime accident compensation”

Maritime UK launches its Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto

Maritime UKs Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto is available to read now
Maritime UKs Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto is available to read now

Maritime UK and the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group (LGA Coastal SIG) have urged the UK government to come up with a clear strategy to stem the brain drain by launching a new Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto.

The Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto sets out proposals to boost connectivity to the rest of the country, extend freeport benefits to all coastal areas, install a shore power network across the coast to charge tomorrow’s Teslas of the seas, and develop new skills in coastal communities, including digital skills.

Maritime UK chair, Sarah Kenny, said, “There is nothing inevitable about coastal decline. These areas are Britain’s gateway to the world Continue reading “Maritime UK launches its Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto”

UK government’s maritime biennial report: April 2019 to May 2021 published

The maritime biennial report by the UK government is available to read
The maritime biennial report by the UK government is available to read

Just published, the maritime biennial report outlines the UK government’s maritime achievements for 2019 to 2021. It compares them against the priorities of the 2018 to 2019 maritime annual report.

The following text is the introduction taken from the report itself. Maritime is the key transport mode underpinning international trade, securing the vital supply of fuel and food needed to keep the nation running, and is at the forefront of responding to the global technological, environmental and economic challenges and opportunities that we are facing. Continue reading “UK government’s maritime biennial report: April 2019 to May 2021 published”

UK National Maritime Strategy for the IMO Instruments Implementation Code

The UK National Maritime Strategy, collectively, commits to giving full effect to her flag, port and coastal State responsibilities and obligations, to advance maritime safety and environmental protection for our seafarers, our local communities, our economy and our international peers.

The UK National Maritime Strategy aims to support and facilitate the UK Maritime Administration’s implementation and enforcement of the III Code, and UKG Maritime 2050 by:
– Enacting and maintaining UK legislation;
– Enforcing all Instruments;
– Review and Improve performance; and
– Collaborate to grow capability and capacity;

These aims will enable the UK Maritime Administration to continually improve the adequacy of measures to give effect to the international instruments. Continue reading “UK National Maritime Strategy for the IMO Instruments Implementation Code”

UK Government opens consultation to strengthen the enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft

The Department for Transport has published a consultation document to clamp down on dangerous driving of recreational and personal watercraft.
The Department for Transport has published a consultation document to clamp down on dangerous driving of recreational and personal watercraft.

The Department for Transport has published a consultation document to modernise laws and clamp down on dangerous driving of jet skis to protect the public and coastal areas. The consultation will bring recreational and personal watercraft, such as jet-skis and speedboats, under the same laws as those who operate ships, meaning tougher sentences for those caught driving dangerously.

Under the current system, local authorities (LAs) have the power to regulate speed and nuisance driving through byelaws, with the power to fine those breaching the rules up to £1,000.

Continue reading “UK Government opens consultation to strengthen the enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft”

Decarbonising the UK fishing fleet

Photo credit: Fishing for mussels. @Pauleinerhand © Unsplash.com
Photo credit: Fishing for mussels. @Pauleinerhand © Unsplash.com

The UK regards itself as a leader on the world stage as far as preventing climate change is concerned. The UK has set a high standard so far showing the way with an impressive roadmap to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. It was the first country in the world to set statutory decarbonising reduction targets in its climate Change Act of 2008, and in 2019 passed a law on net-zero emissions.

In a new report, a group of NGOs – WWF UK, MarFishEco Fisheries Consultants, Marine Conservation Society and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – have reviewed the UK fishing industry’s response to climate change mitigation. Shipping companies are already working hard to reduce their emissions, and the orders for retrofitting and design for energy-efficient ship propulsion systems is at an all-time high. It is likely the fishing industry will be the next focus.

Continue reading “Decarbonising the UK fishing fleet”

Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order consultation now open for comments

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has started its formal consultation on a draft Port of London Authority (PLA) Harbour Revision Order (HRO). The consultation is open until 12 October 2021. HROs amend the existing legislative basis of a port and are consented under the Harbours Act 1964. The MMO has, since 2010, undertaken this process on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport.

The HRO is intended to modernise the Port of London Act 1968, under which the PLA operates. It takes into account the nature of modern operations and technology in use on the river today and the continued evolution of the PLA as a modern, transparent organisation. The PLA HRO reflects revisions made after an informal, pre-submission consultation in autumn 2019. More than 50 stakeholders contributed through the informal consultation phase. Continue reading “Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order consultation now open for comments”

IIMS joins forces with four other leading organisations to form the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to influence lawmakers

The logo of the newly formed Maritime Professional Council of the UK
The logo of the newly formed Maritime Professional Council of the UK

Shipping and boating are going through huge technological changes, but the industry’s professional bodies say their expertise needs to be listened to when policy decisions are made in this vital sector. To make this easier five professional bodies have formed the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to make sure policymakers are aware of the considered professional opinions of those with the qualifications, expertise and experience to provide informed advice on the many policy decisions that need to be made.

The Council will bring together the collective voices of the United Kingdom based professional organisations for the British Merchant Navy and associated maritime industry. It will promote professionalism within the industry and offer expert opinion on maritime matters to the Continue reading “IIMS joins forces with four other leading organisations to form the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to influence lawmakers”

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